Nothing great is easy

 After returning from Paris on the 29th I didn't have much time until things were back to normal. I was doing two night shifts on the Wednesday and Thursday which flew by as I finished series 2 of 'The Following'. Of course I did some work too even though I am just Sky News' security blanket for any breaking news that happens overnight. The upcoming weekend was my first free weekend in a long time especially after a mammoth stint of shifts in the weeks previous. This was also the bank holiday weekend and although that means nothing to me in my line of work I had taken the Monday off as well as I was doing the Milton Keynes marathon then. This would be my last event before Ironman Lanzarote. Some people may argue I am mad, stupid or just plain idiotic to be doing a marathon (which obviously takes a lot of out the body) just 12 days before an Ironman but it works for me mentally. I know from my previous efforts I can hack it physically and needed the challenge mentally as much as I felt I needed it physically. I wanted the miles in my legs and mentally I wanted to test myself and see any improvements. I personally will always compete in a marathon before an Ironman as part of my training although many do not see it essential. It works for me so doubters please respect my training as much as I do yours.

 Anyway, before I delve into my efforts in Milton Keynes on bank holiday Monday I first want to outline an exciting experience on the Saturday. I explained in my previous blog about my first non-wetsuit open water swim as part of my training for swimming the Channel. The next part of this preparation was to go down to Dover, meet everyone down there and swim in the sea non-wetsuit. We would also have to go through the ordeal of swimming for 30 minutes, getting out and changed within 10 minutes, warming up as much as possible for 30 minutes and then getting back in the water again for a further 30 minutes. I was dreading this experience and actually feared it on the lead up to it. On the day however I managed to surprise myself as I loved it. I was told my Gill who had already swam the Channel as a relay member that going to Dover was an experience in itself. I would get to meet Freda who can simply be called a character. She sits on the beach and overlooks all the swimmers, normally always sporting a cigarette. She is stern and you do what she says, no more and no less. We arrived at 9am, we, as relay swimmers were due to swim at 10am. We also had to sign up and get our membership card whilst on the beach. The solo swimmers were just about to head in the water when we got to the beach and there was a shared instant respect to all of them (only one was wearing a wetsuit). One thing I will say is I was surprised at the size of some of them. I know body fat is essential when doing a solo Channel crossing but some of them were really big, but who am I to judge, I respected them all for even accepting the challenge. I have always wanted to swim the channel solo but in that moment I confirmed that one day I will. The sun was starting to shine and it really looked like it was going to be a lovely day made even better that we were by the sea. I was in high spirits and my fear had turned to excitement, I couldn't wait to get in the water!

Starting to look like a beautiful day for a sea swim!

We all registered and then I bought a new swim hat. It is a rule that all solo swimmers have to wear a red swim hat and all the relay swimmers have to wear a yellow swim hat. Now I have accumulated many swim hats over the years in my events but I have never received a yellow one. I did search around town the day before for yellow one as I didn't want to leave it until I was on the beach but had no luck. I was actually quite pleased I didn't find one the day before as this swim hat has become my new favourite (even over my Ironman Wales one which I wear with pride). The quote on the swim hat is "Nothing great is easy" and was said by Captain Matthew Webb, the first person to ever swim the Channel. It is a simple quote but really hit home to me and considering everything I aim to achieve it really is fitting. The picture below is now the background on my phone so I am always reminded of this quote that means so much.

My new favourite quote and swim hat

We of course had to do some posing and had some obligatory pictures on the beach with our team hoodies on that I had organised (thank you to my friend Clare for designing The Salty Seals logo).

The Salty Seals Channel Swim Team (bar one)

Me 'posing'

After that it was time to get ready. Although the sun was really starting to shine there was still a cold air. We were called over by Freda and told to do a 30 minute swim - out to the furthest wall and back and if this took quicker than 30 minutes - do it again. Our shivering bodies walked down beach to the sea. There were about 20 of us in total, a pretty shoddy turn out considering this was the first swim of the season in Dover and last year we were told there were about 200 people. One woman thought the lack of people could be lack of money as swimming the Channel is not cheap even within a relay. I wasn't the first of the pack to get in but I wasn't the last. As expected at 10.5 degrees the weather was cold. I waded in until I was waist high. I always find getting my chest in the hardest bit but before a wave took away my autonomy I dived in and whilst doing so closed my eyes and said to myself 'For Rosie'. I quickly began overtaking others who had got in a few seconds before me and swam comfortably. I am used to swimming in the sea and although the waves sometimes caught me out and I got a mouthful of dirty salty water I was enjoying myself. This is what open water swimming is really about. You are alone getting into your own breathing rhythm, listening and watching the waves crash around you feeling completely at one with yourself. This is the perfect time to think about life. It was a real moment of calm and serenity. I thought about Rosie without getting upset, I was in a flashback of my own life looking back on us curling our hair together, cutting barbies' hair, running around supermarkets, singing and reading together, and then stroking each others backs after a hard day of playing. It is amazing that swimming has the power to do this and I am truly blessed it has this effect on me. My parents have been concerned that I am doing too much this year and could have done without the Channel swim crossing. However, I could justify every sacrifice I would be making to do this training after that 30 minute swim. I ended up being the second to last one out as I and another went the furthest by doing the loop twice and coming out in 34 minutes. My Garmin told me that it was the distance of a half Ironman swim. 34 minutes without even trying, with no wetsuit for buoyancy or heat, with no drafting off other competitors and in the sea - I would take that!
 I would be lying if I said I wasn't cold though. I stumbled getting my shoes on to walk up to my fellow team mates and had an unfortunate fall right where a camera was filming - Bridget Jones moment, hope that doesn't make the cut! When I got back to my group I changed into my second swimming costume, replaced my swim hat with a woolly hat and put my tracksuit on within 5 minutes. The feared shakes were due to start at any time so I went for a run with another team mate to try and avoid them. I didn't seem to shake that bad, my mood  and energy was still high and I kept moving on the spot and singing to keep warm. Some members fell asleep and went into their own world, for me I have to go the other way to keep motivated. The solo swimmers went off again shortly after and then it was our queue to go in again. I was excited to give it a second go and after our instructions by Freda to go in for 35 minutes this time we were on our way. Some of my team were struggling, one woman in particular had planned to only go in again for 20 minutes but considering how much she was shivering fair play to her for having the determination to get in again. I was one of the first in the water this time and quick to speed off. This time I did one long loop and a second shorter and again was the second to last out of the water clocking over a half Ironman distance time in 38 minutes. This really was awesome as I really was comfortable. Again I got changed and we all then we all went to get coffee together. I obviously didn't have a normal body temperature but I wasn't a shivering wreck and only really struggled with my feet being numb. I was shaking my leg merely to try and get some sense to the ice blocks at the end of my legs. I always knew I had bad circulation in my feet - can't be much body fat there as there is every else! We all finished our coffees and headed our way back. I was sharing a lift with Gill and another team mate, Dave. Swimming was the main focus of our conversation on the way back and at one point got particularly irate about Davina Mccall's open water attempts in her latest sports relief challenge that was broadcast. We all agreed, somewhat angrily, that she and her team were stupid to even have done such a thing in Lake Windermere at that time of year especially as she isn't a strong or acclimatised swimmer. We all couldn't understand what she achieved out of it except for make a bad reputation for open water swimming and put herself in danger. Again much like doing a marathon 12 days before an Ironman many will disagree with me here, but the subject angers me.

 The day was a success. My overall stats led to a PB over an Ironman distance swim of 1h06. This was a huge 5 minute improvement on Wales and obviously this time it was without a wetsuit and in colder water. This was a huge boost to take with me to Lanzarote. I told Mark, my coach, and he was really happy. It proved that the hard work and early morning starts training were paying off.
 On the way back I did begin to get low and my sister seemed so too so I decided to drive down and see my mum and sister that night. It was lovely to spend some one-on-one time with each of them. On the Sunday I saw Mark and he fixed my tyre and gave me a tutorial of how to fix it. We also went out for a ride and I learnt some technical tips when using Bella Rosa. I was going to go into the Milton Keynes marathon on this blog too but I have babbled about swimming too much so shall make a separate post for that. To be continued...